C¹²(n,n′)3α Reaction induced by 14.8 MeV Neutrons

Abstract

The probable mechanism of the C¹²(n,n′)3α reaction when induced by d–T neutrons has been deduced from a study of 403 stars in nuclear emulsions. The angular distribution of the inelastically scattered neutrons show a forward peak, and it is concluded that the reaction occurred mainly through the compound nucleus and that the asymmetry at about 90° is caused by the interference of several levels. The possible decay mode of the C¹² nucleus was also investigated, and an approximate branching ratio was obtained, assuming that the decay mode via Be⁹ was negligible. Then, comparing the angular distributions of the inelastically scattered neutrons which correspond to the different decay modes, Sacks’s model for the direct break-up of C^13* was found to be in disagreement with the present experimental results.